‘Kabul Process’: States asked to refrain from aiding rebels

KABUL (Pajhwok): Participants of the maiden ‘Kabul Process’ meeting on Tuesday asked militants groups to agree to a ceasefire and start peace talks with the Afghan government immediately.

A statement from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on Wednesday quoted the meeting’s participants as agreeing to a united approach against those refusing to join the political process and continue to provide the ground for foreign terrorists to operate in Afghanistan.

In addition, the statement said, the participants supported all Afghan security forces’ efforts to defend the people of Afghanistan and combat all terrorist threats‎ that affected the international community.

The gathering came after horrific acts of terror in Kabul that left hundreds of Afghan civilians dead and wounded.

“This gathering is a powerful signal of solidarity with the government of Afghanistan and its people in its fight against terrorism and in its effort and aspiration to achieve peace.”

The statement said a stable Afghanistan enabled a stable region, which could only be achieved through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process with the full support of neighbors and international partners, as demonstrated in the recent successful peace deal with Hizbe-Islami, Hikmatyar.

The participants stressed genuine state-to-state cooperation and regional mechanisms to counter terrorism and establish peace in Afghanistan and the region.

As stated in UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy as a measure to prevent and combat terrorism, it was emphasized that states must “refrain from organizing, instigating, facilitating, participating in financing, encouraging or tolerating terrorist activities.

States must take appropriate practical measures to ensure that their respective territories were not used for terrorist installations or training camps, or for the preparation or organization of terrorist acts intended to be committed by other states or their citizens.

The meeting called for concerted efforts by all countries to address challenges of terrorism, dismantle terrorist infrastructure and disrupt all financial and tactical support provided by states, criminal networks and individuals.

The participants decided to meet again to follow up on the ideas and proposals generated by the meeting and to pursue concrete actions to foster peace and stability in Afghanistan and region.